SEO Myth or Fact??

drunkenmonkey · 10-23-2010, 02:48 PM

I've just had a very interesting discussion with an SEO expert.

She thinks that the physical location of your server has a direct impact on rankings.

This is what she said:

"Well, this is what I think is the logic behind this:
a .co.uk can only be bought by someone in the UK because it's geographically restricted. So Google knows that a .co.uk is relevant to the UK, more so than another suffix.

If that is coupled by the hosting company AND the physical location of the servers to be UK too, then, logically Google could think that a website with all of these in place is more relevant to a UK audience than another site, chasing the same keyphrases for example, a .com, hosted in Timbuctoo.

I haven't tested this, but it was revealed to Immediate Edge members last November by Dan Raine at Ed Dale's Coming Home Seminar.

Dan assured the delegates at the time that his Labs had tested this extensively, comparing websites etc. and found physical sever location to have a bearing on rankings. I trust Ed and Dan "

It's logical and Plausible...but I can't help but think this is somewhat far fetched?.....

Thoughts anyone?
DM

cbpayne · 10-23-2010, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drunkenmonkey

a .co.uk can only be bought by someone in the UK because it's geographically restricted. So Google knows that a .co.uk is relevant to the UK, more so than another suffix.

Thats not true as I in Australia and had no problem buying .co.uk names.

Quote:

If that is coupled by the hosting company AND the physical location of the servers to be UK too, then, logically Google could think that a website with all of these in place is more relevant to a UK audience than another site, chasing the same keyphrases for example, a .com, hosted in Timbuctoo.

Physical location of the server is really important. This is really old news.

orvn · 10-23-2010, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbpayne

Thats not true as I in Australia and had no problem buying .co.uk names.Physical location of the server is really important. This is really old news.

Yeah, but is the server located in Australia?

I'm reasonably sure that all sorts of things impact your search results that you wouldn't normally consider. The g/cc-TLD, aka domain suffix can play a role, but it doesn't always.

The history of your site's popularity (whether it's mostly privy to local traffic or global traffic) is definitely a larger factor to consider when thinking about locales.

cbpayne · 10-23-2010, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orvn

But is the server located in Australia?

In the UK. I have several UK targeted sites, so have .co.uk based on UK servers...

orvn · 10-23-2010, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbpayne

In the UK. I have several UK targeted sites, so have .co.uk based on UK servers...

Sorry, I misread the original quote.

Quote:

Originally Posted by drunkenmonkey;

Well, this is what I think is the logic behind this:
a .co.uk can only be bought by someone in the UK because it's geographically restricted

She does indeed claim that ccTLD's can only be purchased within the country they represent.

That's just silly.

As far as geographic restrictions are concerned.. I'm not entirely sure about them either actually..

Here in Toronto, many local business owners purchase *.to websites.
Does that mean they're hosted in Tobago?
Doubt it.

cbpayne · 10-23-2010, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orvn

That's just silly.

As far as geographic restrictions are concerned.. I'm not entirely sure about them either actually..

Here in Toronto, many local business owners purchase *.to websites.
Does that mean they're hosted in Tobago?
Doubt it.

As I said, I am Australian, I have .co.uk, .co.nz, .ca, .de, .fr, .za sites - I had no problem registering them.

Incidently, it is actually difficult for a non-Australian to buy a .au domain! ... don't figure.

drunkenmonkey · 10-23-2010, 03:48 PM

[QUOTE]Physical location of the server is really important.[QUOTE]

cbpayne...I'm not an SEO expert...so can you explain why...because the only reason I can come up with is the benefits of Google Local Search.

Even then...you know...I doubt it, I actually own my own servers based in the States and I've also seen many United States hosted websites rank in Google Local Search for the UK.

So, I'm really interested to know the reasons/logic behind it.

DM

cbpayne · 10-23-2010, 03:52 PM

Here is a couple of resources:
This direct from a Google employee, John Mu:
hosting server IP address importance to SEO - Webmaster Central Help

This is a post on it related to forums, but still relevant:
Does Your Forum Target a Specific Geographic Region? | Forum Doc
and there is a Video from Matt Cutts at that link explaining it (I do not know how to embed a you tube clip into posts here)

drunkenmonkey · 10-23-2010, 04:02 PM

Thanks cbpayne,

Hmmm...Interesting..

The way I read into those 2 resources you posted above is this:

John Mu say's it does NOT have a bearing
Matt Cutts say's it DOES

Ok, thanks for posting those resources cbpayne.

DM

cbpayne · 10-23-2010, 04:08 PM

I think what John Mu is saying is that it does not have a bearing if you have a country level TLD. Its probably a different case if you have a generic .com and host the site on a server in a country you are targeting.

Having said that I have seen a number of sites that have country level TLD and host on a server outside that country and they do not show for "site from 'region'" searches. I have also seen examples of the opposite.

My best guess is that Google probably uses some sort of algorithm that determines this - it combines TLD, server location, maybe address found on site etc. I have also seen it speculated that the methods may even vary from country to country. Google will be constantly testing this to deliever the best results for what the searcher in that country is after.

If you really want to target a country, then play it safe and use a country level TLD and host the site on a server in that country.

10-23-2010, 02:48 PM	#1
drunkenmonkey Jus' cruisin baby... War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 316 Thanks: 62 Thanked 63 Times in 35 Posts	SEO Myth or Fact?? I've just had a very interesting discussion with an SEO expert. She thinks that the physical location of your server has a direct impact on rankings. This is what she said: "Well, this is what I think is the logic behind this: a .co.uk can only be bought by someone in the UK because it's geographically restricted. So Google knows that a .co.uk is relevant to the UK, more so than another suffix. If that is coupled by the hosting company AND the physical location of the servers to be UK too, then, logically Google could think that a website with all of these in place is more relevant to a UK audience than another site, chasing the same keyphrases for example, a .com, hosted in Timbuctoo. I haven't tested this, but it was revealed to Immediate Edge members last November by Dan Raine at Ed Dale's Coming Home Seminar. Dan assured the delegates at the time that his Labs had tested this extensively, comparing websites etc. and found physical sever location to have a bearing on rankings. I trust Ed and Dan " It's logical and Plausible...but I can't help but think this is somewhat far fetched?..... Thoughts anyone? DM

10-23-2010, 03:48 PM	#7
drunkenmonkey Jus' cruisin baby... War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 316 Thanks: 62 Thanked 63 Times in 35 Posts	Re: SEO Myth or Fact?? [QUOTE]Physical location of the server is really important.[QUOTE] cbpayne...I'm not an SEO expert...so can you explain why...because the only reason I can come up with is the benefits of Google Local Search. Even then...you know...I doubt it, I actually own my own servers based in the States and I've also seen many United States hosted websites rank in Google Local Search for the UK. So, I'm really interested to know the reasons/logic behind it. DM

10-23-2010, 03:52 PM	#8
cbpayne Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 578 Thanks: 12 Thanked 36 Times in 34 Posts	Re: SEO Myth or Fact?? Here is a couple of resources: This direct from a Google employee, John Mu: hosting server IP address importance to SEO - Webmaster Central Help This is a post on it related to forums, but still relevant: Does Your Forum Target a Specific Geographic Region? \| Forum Doc and there is a Video from Matt Cutts at that link explaining it (I do not know how to embed a you tube clip into posts here)

10-23-2010, 04:02 PM	#9
drunkenmonkey Jus' cruisin baby... War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 316 Thanks: 62 Thanked 63 Times in 35 Posts	Re: SEO Myth or Fact?? Thanks cbpayne, Hmmm...Interesting.. The way I read into those 2 resources you posted above is this: John Mu say's it does NOT have a bearing Matt Cutts say's it DOES Ok, thanks for posting those resources cbpayne. DM

10-23-2010, 04:08 PM	#10
cbpayne Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 578 Thanks: 12 Thanked 36 Times in 34 Posts	Re: SEO Myth or Fact?? I think what John Mu is saying is that it does not have a bearing if you have a country level TLD. Its probably a different case if you have a generic .com and host the site on a server in a country you are targeting. Having said that I have seen a number of sites that have country level TLD and host on a server outside that country and they do not show for "site from 'region'" searches. I have also seen examples of the opposite. My best guess is that Google probably uses some sort of algorithm that determines this - it combines TLD, server location, maybe address found on site etc. I have also seen it speculated that the methods may even vary from country to country. Google will be constantly testing this to deliever the best results for what the searcher in that country is after. If you really want to target a country, then play it safe and use a country level TLD and host the site on a server in that country.